County FMR · HUD FY2026
Nome Census Area Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Nome Census Area, AK - 39% above the US average.
- $1,334
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,533
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.3%
- YoY change
- +39%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Nome is the 12th most expensive of 30 counties in Alaska by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #440 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.3% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #440
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #12
- most expensive of 30 in Alaska (2BR)
- +12%
- vs the state average
- $53,360
- income to afford it (30% rule)
General and Operations Managers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.3%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (52.4%); nearby Alaska counties range as much as 72% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Nome Census Area, AK. Verify with HUD →
HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Nome Census Area, Alaska at $1,334 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,533/mo and a studio is $1,227/mo. This is 39% higher than the national average of $959 and 12% above the Alaska average of $1,194.
Rent increased5.3% from FY 2025 ($1,267), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $53,360/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 20.2% of the 1,021 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 2.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 9.6% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alaska. Population: 10,018. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.0%, Census ACS). That's in line with Alaska's statewide growth of -0.6% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area NOME·CENSUS·AREA·AK·AK
Nome Census Area, AK: $1,334/mo 1BR · #440 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA AK
- 1BR-FMR $1,334
- 2BR-FMR $1,533
- RANK-MID #440
- YOY-SURGE +5.3%
- VSUS-HIGH +39%
- VS-ST-HIGH +12% AK
- INC-MID 21%
- POP-SMALL 10K
- PHOTO-NEAR Anchorage Municipa
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,201–$1,467
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Anchorage Municipality ($91 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,197 | $1,227 | +$30 (+2.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,267 | $1,334 | +$67 (+5.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,477 | $1,533 | +$56 (+3.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,070 | $2,132 | +$62 (+3.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,335 | $2,525 | +$190 (+8.1%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Nome Census Area. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Where Nome sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,533 Top 14% higher than 86% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Nome compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alaska counties
- Bethel
Bethel Census Area
$1,719 1BR FMR / mo
- Juneau City and
Juneau City and Borough
$1,340 1BR FMR / mo
- Nome
Nome Census Area
$1,334 1BR FMR / mo
- Fairbanks North Star
Fairbanks North Star Borough
$1,277 1BR FMR / mo
- Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality
$1,243 1BR FMR / mo
- Matanuska-Susitna
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
$1,049 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula Borough
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Nome is highlighted. Nearby Alaska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Bethel Census Area ($1,719), Juneau City and Borough ($1,340), Nome Census Area (this county) ($1,334), Fairbanks North Star Borough ($1,277), Anchorage Municipality ($1,243), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,049), Kenai Peninsula Borough ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,334/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Alaska BLS wages?
| Occupation | AK Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| General & Operations Managers | $120,470 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Software Developers | $119,600 | 13.4% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $110,690 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,300 | 16% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,950 | 19.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,860 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,290 | 21% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,890 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,120 | 26.2% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $50,440 | 31.7% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,760 | 35.8% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $39,040 | 41% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,940 | 43.3% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 46.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,560 | 52.4% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Nome Census Area. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Nome (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has fallen 4.6% overall, from $1,398 to $1,334. Rent fell in 3 of the last 6 tracked years, including a 9.9% drop in FY 2021 - an unusual multi-year softening rather than the steady increases seen in most US counties.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.3% | $1,227 | $1,334 | $1,533 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.7% | $1,197 | $1,267 | $1,477 |
| FY 2024 ↑8.2% | $1,250 | $1,258 | $1,497 |
| FY 2023 ↓2.8% | $1,156 | $1,163 | $1,467 |
| FY 2022 ↓4.9% | $1,190 | $1,197 | $1,501 |
| FY 2021 ↓9.9% | $1,193 | $1,259 | $1,534 |
| FY 2020 | $1,281 | $1,398 | $1,685 |
Where Nome Census Area Ranks in Alaska
Nome Census Area is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #19 of 30 counties in Alaska. Nearest by rank: Aleutians East Borough ($1,385), Yakutat City and Borough ($1,388), Hoonah-Angoon Census Area ($1,460), Petersburg Borough ($1,463), Chugach Census Area ($1,506), Nome Census Area (this county) ($1,533), Sitka City and Borough ($1,566), Ketchikan Gateway Borough ($1,625), North Slope Borough ($1,625), Anchorage Municipality ($1,631), Skagway Municipality ($1,644).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Nome Census Area, both outside Alaska so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.
Similar 2-bedroom FMR
Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside AK (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside AK).
Nearby Counties in Alaska
Largest counties by population in Alaska
Showing the 8 largest of 29 other counties in Alaska.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Nome Census Area?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Nome Census Area is $1,334 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,533 and a studio is $1,227.
How does Nome Census Area rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Nome Census Area is 39% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,334 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Nome Census Area rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Nome Census Area's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,533 ranks #440 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Nome Census Area?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $53,360 ($4,447/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Nome Census Area.
Is rent going up or down in Nome Census Area?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Nome Census Area increased by 5.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,267 to $1,334.
Which jobs can afford rent in Nome Census Area?
Based on Alaska BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like General and Operations Managers, Software Developers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,334/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Nome Census Area over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Nome Census Area went from $1,398 in FY 2020 to $1,334 in FY 2026, a total change of -4.6% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Nome Census Area?
In Nome Census Area, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,334/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Nome Census Area?
For Nome Census Area, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,334/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Nome Census Area?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 2.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Nome Census Area?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 9.6% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Nome's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,334 implies about $53,360/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Alaska counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Anchorage Municipality
- See where Nome ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.